PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
51 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
200 lbs (91 kg) in weight
Email address: rick (at) BackpackGearTest (dot) org
Personal Hiking Page: http://www.imrisk.com
I live in Dayton, Ohio

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
Over the last several years, I have become an ultralight camper with a three-season base pack weight of about 15 lb (7 kg) and skin out weight of 23 lb (10 1/2 kg). I have completed many section hikes on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in all four seasons, with a total mileage of about 770 miles (1240 km). I am a gearhead, a hammock camper, and builder of much of my own equipment.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: IBEX Outdoor Clothing, LLC
Year Manufactured: 2004
Manufacturer's Link: http://www.ibexwear.com
MSRP: US$125
Size: Large
Measured Weight: 16.7 oz (472 g) (measured to the gram)

TEST CONDITIONS
I continued to use the Jersey on day hikes through the winter and have also used it for two continuous weeks on the Appalachian Trail.  Temperatures ranged as low as 0 F (-18 C) and I have worn the Jersey in temperatures as high as 70 F (21 C).  I have used the Shak Jersey in foggy conditions, and during all day rain. 

REVIEW

For a detailed description of the Jersey's construction, see my Initial Report.

I have continued to use the Jersey as a mid-layer garment. Over my tee shirt, as a next layer of skin hugging warmth, the Jersey has been an effective warm layer down to temperatures hovering around freezing. The Jersey is also a comfortable single layer for a cool evening or under loose outer fleece as part of a winter set of layers.  It is more versatile than a long undershirt top, being warmer as well as nicer looking.  On my current long-distance hike, it has replaced my long underwear top.

This spring, I have worn the Shak Jersey nearly every evening.  I have used it on the trail from the time that temperatures drop with the sun until the next mid-morning, when hiking has warmed me to the point that I need nothing but a tee shirt. As my constant companion, it gets a lot of hours on a sweaty body. So it must be washed.  Like everything else I carry in the woods, it must be washed by hand in cold water in a camp bucket or in a stream.

If the air temperature does not warm up much for several days, the Jersey still must be washed and worn damp until dry. Fortunately, like many wool garments, the top retains a surprising amount of warmth-producing-loft even when wet. It has been my experience that the top will dry on my torso on a sunny day in about two hours.  The material also wears well when moist. Unlike some other wool garments I have worn, the Jersey does not get baggy with use in wet conditions.  It retains its springy good fit.

The workmanship of the Jersey shows. Its native high quality results in durability. I have not been distracted with any fraying or splitting seams.  The material cleans nicely. In general the surface has not pilled, though there are two small patches in the mid back which do show some signs of mild pilling. This wear is over the two bundles of muscle in my back where my pack comes in constant contact with my pack. The number of pulls of yarn from the fabric remains low despite the rough treatment of a long hike.  After six months of wear, I can still say that the material is quite comfortable even against bare skin. It is not at all scratchy or irritating.  The sage color has been pleasing on the trail. It matches well with the colors of the woods while contrasting well with the other clothing I hike with, so that I can easily pick out what I want from my clothes bag even in dim light. The color is dark enough to make dirt spots not obvious, yet light enough to be seen well in dim light. 

I have found an additional and very useful way this garment helps me to stay comfortable on a hike. When laying down to sleep in my camping hammock, I am usually able to take the jersey off under my quilt if the air temperature is above freezing.  In cool weather, the folded wool jersey makes a very comfortable layer between my face and the uninsulated bottom of the hammock. It is warm to the touch and soft to my cheek. It is also ready to be slipped back on my chest in the cool air of morning.

On my latest hike, I used the Shak Jersey as the only insulation for my arms while hiking in temperatures as low as 25 degrees. (I had a sleeveless warm layer over the jersey.)  I used it as warmth under my rain garments in cold and windy storms. The properties of the high quality wool kept me comfortable in these miserable conditions.

After returning from 12 days of daily hiking wear,  washing in a machine completely removed all stains and dirt that had not been removed by field cleaning. I laid the Jersey on a bed to dry in the correct shape, and it ended up looking good enough for a dinner date with my wife. 

I could not be more pleased with the Shak Jersey. It is high quality clothing built for good looks as well as backpacking functionality.